Charles l



(No Model.) C). L. GORRELL.

CABLE RAILWAY GRIP. No. 359w859. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

UNITED .STATES PArrnNr CHARLES L. CORR-ELL, OF BELIR, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO JOSHUA R. 'W HITAKER, OF SAME PLACE.

CABLEfRAlLWAY GRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,859, dated March22, 1887.

Appiicniion filed Drcemhcrl, 1886. Serial No.

T @ZZ wwnnz't muy concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. GonnnLL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Belair, in the county ofHarford, State ot' Maryland, have invented certain new and usefullmprovenients in Cable-Railway Grips, of which the following is aspeciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to gripping atio tachments for cablerailways; and the object of the invention is to provide a gripper thatwill be positive in its gripping function, simple in construction, easyof manipulation, and which will grip a cable in a 'manner as'togradually start the car, thus avoiding sudden jerks.

Vith thc above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain features of construction hereinafter speciticd, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an end view of a portion of a carprovided with grippers constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a central vertical section on the line X X of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 isa detail in side elevation showing the releasing mechanism.

A represents the platform ofacar, to the nnder surface of which issecured a housing, B, and through which passes the gripper-supportingrod C, which is provided with the head C', extending up into a recess,A, formed in the bottoni ofthe car, and with the flared portion CL atits lower end. A coiled spring, D, inclosed within the housing B,circles the rod C and hears against the lower end ot' said housing, saidspring having a tendency to keep the rod in an elevated position. Insuitable brackels, E, are pivoted twin pulleys E', and depending frorneach side ot' the car are swivel- 40 pulleys E, and projecting at rightangles to standards Ai, depending from the side of the car, are pulleysE". Mounted upon the platform ofthe car at a point convenient to theoperator are standards F, which form bearings fori the twin drum F',which is mounted upon a shaft, F2, having a suitable crank or wheel, F,secured at one end.

Within the iiared lower end, Ci, of the rod O are pivoted, as at G,grippers G, which are 5o provided with serrated or rubber grippingfacesG at their lower ends and formed with 222,023. (No model.)

eyes Gi at their upper ends. A spring, G, passing through the rod O,connects the grippers at their upper ends, thus drawing the upper endstoward each other, consequently opening or spreading the lower endsthereof.

Ropes orchains H. are connected with the twin drum or pulley F andextend down and over the pulleys E 1i. E3, said ropes or chainsdiverging after 'theyr pass the pulleys E and extending down andconnected to the eyes Gl of the gripper-s G. Nithin the recess A is afootlever, I, provided with lug l and adapted to bear uponthe head C ofthe rod O, which lever is pivoted beyond the head and within the recess.Y

Running longitudinally with the car from rear to front are guy-chains K,said chains preventing the rod C from being drawn out of a verticalposition. A stop, L, within the recess also aids to prevent the rod frombeing drawn out of a vertical position when the grippers are in contactwith thc cable.

The shaft F', upon which the twin druin F is mounted, is provided with aratchet, Fi, and a pawl, F5. A rod, F, extending from thepawl to thefoot-lever F7, serves to raise the pawl lfroxn out of contact with theratchet, thus releasing the druni.

The operation of this invention is as follows: By reason of the springD, the grippers are held above and out o'l contact with the cable. Tostart the cars in motion, pressure is appiied upon the lever Lsuiiicient to overcome the upward pressure o1" the spring B of the rodC, which former pressure causes the rod C to lower so as to bring thegrip-jaws down to the cable. The operator then gives the crank Fg abouta half-revolution, which revolves the drum F/ and draws upon the ropesor chains H, thus causing the gripping-nicos of the grippers to closeupon the cable. As this closing movement is gradual, no sudden jars orjerksy will he given the ycar. W'hen a suitable grip has been attained,the crank is released, the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism described holdingthe same in the gripping position. To stop the car it is simplynecessary to press the lever F with the foot, which pressure causes thepawl F5 to release the ratchet Fi and allows the drum to be reversed,which action will open the gripping-jaws, releasing thc rope,

IOO

and, by reason of thespring D, elevate the rod C and jaws alooveA thecable.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is- 1. Ina cable-railway grip, a rod provided with a spring and withgripping-jaws, in conibination with a lever for depressing the rod,ropes connected to said jaws, and a drum for winding up the rope,substantially as specified.

2. In a cable-railway grip, a rod provided with a spring and withgrippingjaws, iu coinbination with a depressinglever, a drum, and ropespassing from the drum and over pulleys ofthe grippi iig-jaws,substantially as specified.

3. In a Cabic-railway grip, a rod having gripping-jaws, in combinationwith a housing having a spring connected to the rod itor elevatingthesaine above the cable, and with a lever for depressing the sameagainst the ten-` sion ofthe spring, and devices for opening and closingthe jaws, substantially as specified.

4. In arailwaycable grip, a rod provided With a springand having a headat its npper end and flared at its lower end, and providedi with pivotedgrippingjaws, in combination with the bottoni ofthe car, recessed toreceive the head, and with a foot-lever for depressing the head,substantially as specified.

5. In a cable-railway grip, the combination of the rod G, having thegrippingjaws `Gr, with the spring` D, lever I, drumF, ropes H, andpulleys E E2 E3, and standards A2, sub# slantially as specified.

(5. The vcombination of the platforniA, recessed, as at A', with the rodC, lever I, spring D, and jaws G, substantially as speeilied.

7. The combination oi' the rod C, platform A, spring D, and theguy-chains K, substantially as specified.

S. The Combination of rod C, having gripping-jaws, spring D, ropes H,standards F, drum F, ratchet F", pawl F5, rod F, and footlever Ii,substantially as specified.

9. The combination of the rod C, having the grippers G, with the stop L,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L; GORRELL.

\Vitnesses: Y

Tiros. E. CA'rnoAR'r, Tiros. H. ROBINSON.

